The Languageof Interaction

Bill DeRouchey

What can we learn from the objects…

that people have to learn how to use?

LinguisticsAnthropology

DesignEmpathy

ok, it’s a bunch of buttons

We learn via whatwe already know.

Alberto Cañas

Using verbsin interfaces.

Chris Crawford

The form of a bookhasn’t changed.

Dave Gray

Notice the microinteractions.

David Armano

How do people learnhow to use interfaces?

People learn from past experiences.

Experiences create expectations.

What have you learned?

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Playing laundry.

Interfaces inheritmeaning from

other interfaces.

We need to see what people see.

We need to seek inspiration.

Inspiration from what we carry around.

Inspiration from common interactions.

Inspiration from what amuses us.

Inspiration from what intimidates us.

Inspiration from hacking it up.

Inspiration from mixing it up.

Inspiration from seeing the language.

We create and curate this language…

but language evolves and spreads.

Languagesalways evolve.

Power icon0 1

Symbols start with one meaning…

then evolve and extend that meaning.

Meaning migrates across domains.

Photo: Livia Labate

Or meaning can evolve…

into which team possesses the arrow.

Meaning can survive a long time.

For example: Why green and red?

Bad, negative. Good, positive.

Why do we use red and green?

???

They are inherited from traffic signals…

which inherited from railroad signals…

Photo of railroad traffic signal

We need to decodecommunication.

© Scott McCloud, Understanding Comics

The languageof interaction.

WordsIconsColorsShapesSoundsMotionGestureSizeContour

ZoningLayoutIsolationPriorityProximityRepetitionAlignmentSequence

ClarityPerspectivePurposeDelightSurprise

Elements Relationships

The language of interaction.

Principles

Elements.

Words. Labels are everywhere.

Words. Command or label?

Words. Simple …Words. Simple or confusing?

Words. Redefining squanders meaning.

Shapes. Is this a “button”?

Shapes. Is this a “button”?

Shapes. Rounded rectangles evolve.

Shapes. Underline = “I am a button.”

Shapes. We don’t need shapes.

Shapes. What’s interactable anymore?

Relationships.

Zoning. Families of controls/content.

Zoning. An example: Amazon.

Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Tempt

Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Tempt

Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Tempt

Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Browse

Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Re-Tempt

Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Promote

Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Tempt

Tempt

Browse

Re-Tempt

Promote

Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Tempt

Tempt

Browse

Re-Tempt

Promote

Zoning. Dividing up the page.

TemptManage

Priority. There is a focus.

Priority. Where is the importance?

Priority. Where is the focus?

Priority. Color used to create focus…

…but multiple is not focus.

Priority. Promote the likely option.

Priority. Create a hero.

Principles.

Clarity. Make sense or confusion?

Clarity. Sacrifice meaning for… rad?

Clarity. Anticipate the question.

Clarity. Meaning from a distance.

Clarity. Trend: Big fat letters.

Clarity. Action = results.

Perspective. Product or system?

Perspective. Is that really necessary?

Perspective. Is that really necessary?

Perspective. Is that really necessary?

Surprise. Design for delight.

!

Surprise. Anticipate frustration.

Surprise. The familiar in a new context.

The Languageof Interaction

Bill DeRoucheypushclicktouch.com@billder